Interpreting Reality

For many years, psychology has been focused on how to get malfunctioning individuals functional. From Sigmund Freud to Aaron Beck, the focus has been, for the most part, on how do you get depressed people undepressed, anxious people unanxious, angry people unangry, etc.

But what about normal people? How about getting normal people functioning even better?

In 1998, a movement called positive psychology had started within the field of psychology. One of the founders was Martin E.P. Seligman. In his book "Learned Optimism," he proposed that you can function better if you interpreted reality slightly different than you normally do.

For example, during a setback, you may interpret the setback as permanent (never going away), pervasive (carrying over into all areas of your life), or internal (it's all your fault). Interpreting reality this way will result in negative emotions: depression, anxiety, or anger. Thus, causing you to be less functional.

On the other hand, if you interpreted your setbacks as temporary (it will go away soon), compartmental (in only one area of your life), or external (it's some other person's fault), your emotions will be that of hope, causing you to function much better.

It's all a matter of how you interpret reality.